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Tinubu Reads Riot Act to Security Agencies, Declares No More Ransom Payment to Kidnappers

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President Bola Tinubu has again, directed that on no condition should ransom be paid by government to kidnappers, bandits or other criminal elements for the release of their victims, as he read the country’s security agencies the riot act following incessant kidnap incidents.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, revealed the directive yesterday in Abuja while briefing newsmen at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, chaired by Tinubu at the State House.

The federal government also said it was still reviewing offers from the United States and other countries to help in rescue missions, saying it would disclose its decision soon.

The comments came as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, assured residents of improved security, including reduction in cases of kidnapping, in the nation’s capital.

At the same time, Commissioner, FCT Police Command, Benedict Igweh, disclosed that the correctional officer, Usman Ishaya Magaji, who shot and killed a convicted offender, Ibrahim Yahaya, at Wuse market on Tuesday, had been arrested for interrogation.

The government’s decision to put a damper on kidnapping for ransom followed recent incidents, particularly in Kaduna State, where some children were kidnapped and held in captivity while their abductors demanded billions of naira for their release.

Idris briefed newsmen on the latest developments at the end of the FEC meeting yesterday.

He stated, “In council today, Mr. President reiterated his directive to the security agencies and the Ministry of Defence to ensure that those our kids that have been abducted by these criminal gangs are brought back to their homes safely.

“Mr President has also reiterated his zero tolerance for payment of ransom. That was also mentioned by Mr. President at the council today. So, the security agencies are working round the clock.

“So, these children and people that have been abducted by criminal elements will be brought back to safety pretty soon. The security agencies are working hard in that direction.

“And Mr. President has also directed that no ransom will be paid by government to any of these criminal elements. It is important that it will be put out there.”

On the rising wave of kidnapping in the country, Idris said, “You’re also asking about the apparent surge in this kidnapping across the country. Now, it is true that some of these are happening, we have seen what has happened in Kaduna, in Borno and then in Sokoto.

“Of course, government is watching that very closely and not just watching, also ensuring that security agencies are taking proactive steps to ensure that this is halted significantly.

“Now, like I said, Mr. President has said it is an unacceptable situation and the government will not condone abductions or kidnappings or any kind of criminality in that direction.

“We’re seeing this happening and government is taking very proactive steps, first, to mitigate that, and also to stop the spread of this apparently.

“We are seeing that the more the security agencies are also hitting these targets or criminals, the more they are pushed to also getting some soft targets. But government is not taking any excuses.

“The president has directed that security agencies must, as a matter of urgency, ensure that these children and all those who have been kidnapped are brought back in safety and also in the process to ensure that not a dime is paid for ransom.

“So, it’s important to underscore that no dime, government is not paying anybody any dime and the government is optimistic that these children and other people that have been abducted will be brought back to their families in safety.”

Asked what specific support the United States was prepared to offer Nigeria in the rescue of the kidnapped children, the minister said other countries had also offered to help.

He stated, “Talking about what support, if any, are we getting from other countries, specifically the US, well, we’re aware that it’s not just the US that has actually offered.

“Other countries have also offered to support Nigeria. But what we can tell you is that government is still reviewing these offers and the position of government will be made known to you.”

Wike Assures of Improved Security in FCT

FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, assured of improved security, including reduction in kidnapping, in the nation’s capital.

Wike gave the assurance yesterday after a closed-door meeting with the FCT Commissioner of Police, Benedict Igweh, and the Senate on the state of security in the territory.

The minister said regarding the meeting, “It’s nothing difficult, just normal interactions, just to brief them on what we have done as regards security in the FCT.

“I am glad they are all happy with what we have done and what we are going to be doing and the suggestion, which they have given to us but which I cannot disclose to the members of public. This is just a very interactive session.

“What is important is what the FCT should expect from now. I will say improved security, more infrastructure. You can see what is going on in the FCT. It has been turned into a construction site and you can also see what has happened in the FCTA.

“Now we have our own Civil Service Commission, now we have our own permanent secretaries, which had never been. There are new things in the FCT and the residents are happy.” Wike added that from the interaction with the senators, it was agreed that security had improved in the FCT.

“Let me also say that there is no part of the world where criminality has been eradicated. We have heard several times in the United States of America, where criminals go to schools and shoot students.

“So, people should not have that impression that you cannot have one crime or the other. What we need is being able to limit or reduce the level of insecurity.

“But if anybody tells you that as societies are concerned, you will not have one crime or the other, that is not correct and we must tell ourselves the simple truth. Also, most of the kidnapping stories you hear, some of them are stage-managed by people.”

Police Nab Killer of Wuse Market Offender

FCT Commissioner of Police, Benedict Igweh, said the correctional officer, Usman Ishaya Magaji, who shot and killed a convicted offender, Ibrahim Yahaya at Wuse market on Tuesday had been arrested for questioning.

Igweh also said sanity had been restored to the market. He assured the people that the FCT Police Command would continue to work for the security of the residents, stating that the force would continue to comb the forests bordering Niger, Kaduna, Nasarawa, and Kogi states.

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Again, National Grid Collapses, Second Time in Three Days

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The national power grid has collapsed for the second time in three days, leading to blackouts in several parts of the country.

A check on the Nigerian System Operator’s portal (niggrid.org) showed that power generation dropped to zero megawatts at 11:30 am, affecting all 22 generation companies across the country.

Several electricity distribution companies corroborated this on their social media platforms.

“Please be informed that we experienced a system outage today 07 November 2024 at 11:29Hrs affecting supply within our network,” the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) serving parts of Lagos wrote on X.

“Restoration of supply is ongoing in collaboration with our critical stakeholders.
Kindly bear with us.

Meanwhile, Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) have jerked up metre prices, a few months after a similar increase.

The new price regime became effective on November 5, 2024, according to posts on social media platforms of the various DisCos.

With the recent move, the price of a single-phase metre has jumped from around N117,000 to about N149,800. This is dependent on the DisCo and the metre vendor.

A check by Channels Television indicated that the Eko DisCo put the price of its single-phase metre between N135,987.5 and N161,035 and pegged that of a three-phase meter between N226,600 and N266,600.

On its part, the Ibadan DisCo told its customers to pay from a range of N130,998 and N142,548 for a single-phase metre and N226,556.25 – N232,008 for a three-phase metre.

The Abuja DisCo said the price range for a single-phase metre is from N123,130.53–N147,812.5 and N206,345.65–N236,500 for three-phase metres.

Similarly, the Kano Electricity Distribution put N127,925–N129,999 as the price range for a single-phase metre while three-phase metres cost between N223,793–N235,425.

The Kaduna DisCo put its price for a single-phase metre between N131,150 and N142,548.94 and N220,375—N232,008.04 for three-phase metres.

This recent move came months after the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) announced the deregulation of metre prices under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme for end-user customers.

It said this is to address the protracted issues around metre supply and pricing within the sector.

With the development, DisCos and metre vendors can now fix prices based on the economic realities in the country, helping investors recover their money and ensuring the availability of the metres.

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Kamala Harris Congratulates Trump, Urges President-Elect to Unite Americans

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US Vice President, Kamala Harris, has finally called Donald Trump to concede defeat in the election.

This comes hours after the race was called and her loss was confirmed.

According to the Daily Mail, Harris had a warning for the president-elect, lecturing him even as she congratulated him.

“She discussed the importance of a peaceful transfer of power and being a president for all Americans,” a senior aide said.

Harris is expected to concede to the nation at Howard University later today.

The White House has already confirmed that President Joe Biden also has called both candidates.

Biden has also invited Trump to meet with him, telling him about “the importance of working to bring the country together.”

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How Nestlé is Securing the Nation’s Future Through Wholesome Youth Empowerment Schemes

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By Eric Elezuo

“Our ambition is to help 10 million young people around the world access economic opportunities by 2030 through employment and employability, agripreneurship and entrepreneurship” – Nestlé 

The basis of empowerment is not just a function of lip service or showmanship. It is deeply rooted in the ability to showcase tangible and verifiable evidences as seen in individuals and institutions. It is harnessing the process, and aiding of individuals and institutions towards becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling their lives as well as claiming their rights in  the commity of existence.

It is the unequivocal unleashing of authority or power to people or institutions to do something which ordinarily they couldn’t do. Empowerments are of various callings, shapes and categories including political, financial, educational and entrepreneurial.

Consequently, when the story of lifting people, who verily accommodates empowerment, especially youths and women, talents and even resources, is written, one company will be at the forefront of superlative mention; the Nestlé Group, comprising Nestlé Global and Nestlé Nigeria. It’s involvement in the empowerment of women, youths, children and the generality of the public, has become a reference point of some sort, a case study and subject of discourse among men and women of goodwill. Nestlé is a force to reckon with, without an iota of doubt.

From its earliest and most humble beginnings in Switzerland in 1866/67, Nestlé, a brainchild of Henri Nestlé, has grown in leaps and bounds, becoming a global multinational brand, operating and distributing kindness, and empowerment in over 188 countries of the world.

Nestlé was the next best thing to happen to Nigeria, berthing in the country in 1961, as Nestlé Products (Nigeria) Limited. 63 years after, Nestlé has continued to heavily invest in the development and improvement in the nutritional profile of all their products, churning out healthy families and happier children.

Across the globe, the brand has maintained an aura that none has been able to beat in the business of affecting lives, rejuvenating standards and simply put, to empower the young people towards becoming their own individual bosses.

The company’s invincibility in creating leverage for the youths has been centred on four cardinal objectives, which include getting them hired, skilled, supported, and providing them with more opportunities.

Presently, Nestlé has trained about 8,464 young farmers through its renowned Agripreneurship Programme. This achievement incidentally is a process of one year – 2023.

In the same vein, 7,720,000 young people around the world has been provided with access to economic opportunities since 2017, just as a whopping 72,630 young entrepreneurs have received some basic but tangible benefits from the company. Nestlé’s love for the rise of the Nigerian youth, and by extension the world is legendary, and has proved to be larger than life.

It is worthy of note that among a humongous list of ordinate assistance rendered in the empowerment business, Nestlé Nigeria’s commitment to youth empowerment and skill development, continually takes a new dimension; the latest being the establishment in 2023 as an appendix of the firm’s broader technical training initiative, which has been running since 2011, the Flowergate Technical Training Centre (TTC), which just graduated another 20 young people comprising men and women. Yes, a significant milestone, which goes further to tell additional story of Nestlé’s stock-in-trade, and that involves its consistent efforts to equip Nigerian youth with essential technical skills.

It is a thing of joy to observe that since its inception, the programme has produced over 200 young Nigerians, who rode above  the rigous of 18-month stringent curriculum.

The TTC programme comes with a mind blowing six billion naira investment; a proof that their priority lies in developing the next generation of skilled professionals to drive the country’s industrial and entrepreneurial future.

“For over 13 years, our commitment to nurturing young talent has reflected our confidence in the future of this generation,” Mr. Wassim Elhusseini, Managing Director/CEO of Nestlé Nigeria, said at a recent function.

The technicality of the training, time involved and its rigors, have remained a clear testament of the quality, just as Nestlé waste no time in absorbing the graduates. The company does not train and dump; it has employed over 97 percent of its graduates. It is therefore, no surprise that employees of Nestlé are budding young men and women, rearing with energy, tact and a sense of deliverables.

“This year alone, we proudly graduated 70 skilled professionals across all our centers, including Agbara and Abaji, all of whom have now joined our team. For us, this program is more than just skills training—it’s about empowering young people to shape their futures and become catalysts for change. By equipping them with critical technical expertise, we are opening doors to personal growth and financial independence.

“Ultimately, this is a long-term investment in creating shared value, as their success extends beyond themselves, impacting their families, strengthening communities, and driving growth in the industry,” Wassim Elhusseini informed.

Every of the company’s efforts is assiduously targeted to prepare the Nigerian youth for the future, ensuring they can thrive in an evolving industrial landscape.

Of course, everyone expects the best of the youths as the training exercise combines theoretical learning with hands-on engineering experience and culminates in the City and Guilds of London Technicians’ Certification. This significantly boosts the employability of the participants.

Again, for the love of the young ones, and the need to safeguard the future, Nestlé Nigeria has introduced the Nestlé Needs YOUth initiative; a broad base plan that has so far accommodated over 25,000 youths on an annual basis, helping them access economic opportunities.

For the benefit of hindsight, Nestlé’s investment since 2011 in upskilling the bright young minds is a reflection of the  belief in the potential of the next generation as well as commitment to enabling them to thrive, in other to create shared value.

“By bridging the technical skills gap in the industry, we are not only enhancing the employability of our youth but also empowering them to achieve financial independence, enabling them to contribute meaningfully to their communities and society at large,” Nestlé noted.

Without an iota of doubt, Nestlé is “playing our part to cushion the impact of economic challenges on the youth and prepare them for the future. Some of these initiatives include our Nesternship Program, Nestlé Youth Development Program, and our active participation in the Alliance for Youth Nigeria initiative,” Mr. Shakiru Lawal, the Country Human Resources Manager at Nestlé Nigeria, clarified.

Beyond attending to young adults with vocational training, Nestlé is also saddled with the concept of catch them young. The firm’s employees, in collaboration with the company, engage in mentorship of students in the secondary schools, specifically JSS2, SS1 and SS2 classes. Presently, over 12,000 pupils across the nation have received one on one mentorship that has proved to be the ice breaker in their path towards making a career choice.

Dubbed the Youth Leadership Mentoring Programme, which is in collaboration with REVAMP Africa, a youth-focused non-profit organization with the vision to revive educational values and maximize potential among young people, especially in public secondary schools, the initiative aims to instill the right values, skills and attitudes requisite for success and positive personal development from an early age in children. The exercise is designed to empower the children through experiential learning as leaders of tomorrow.

“My classmates and I are excited to have the mentors in our classes. Today’s session on values and morality was very interesting. The mentors spoke to us about developing personal values for success in life. I am determined to live by the four values I have set for myself, both in school and outside the school. I will also put in more effort in my academics so I can excel and achieve my dreams,” a mentee recounts with gusto.

In addition to the many superlatives in youth empowerment schemes and initiatives, Nestlé has also embarked on a project of supporting academic excellence through wholesome sponsorship with its  Community Scholarship Programme.

The Programme, which was launched in 2020, has remained a commitment to empowering the next generation of leaders, and aimed at high-achieving senior secondary and tertiary students pursuing studies in Science and Technology. It also empowers and supports students in communities surrounding Nestlé operations through the provision of tuition, accommodation, uniforms, books, and other essential expenses. The company has steadily ensured that students, who qualify for the grant, have the resources they need throughout their education journey.

Presently, a whopping N18 million has been set aside for 90 verified indigenes for the ongoing session of selection.

“These scholarships reflect our unwavering dedication to investing in the future of our youth. At a time when economic challenges place added strain on families nationwide, we’re proud to provide meaningful financial support that eases this burden. By investing in education, we’re not only empowering individual students but also fostering the growth and prosperity of our entire community,” Victoria Uwadoka, Nestlé Nigeria Corporate Communications, Public Affairs, and Sustainability Lead, has said, noting that 65 students from various schools in Abaji, Agbara and Sagamu, from the 2023/2024 batch have been awarded.

The scholarship has been a leveler, helping students to pursue their dreams, fuel their passion for learning, and help them explore opportunities that might have otherwise been out of reach.

With various empowerment programmes sticking out of the stables of Nestlé, it’s obvious that young people are at the heart of regeneration and future.

“They are the entrepreneurs and innovators of tomorrow and the next generation,” the company noted, stressing that empowering the youths in whatever guise will remain a continuous process until every youth is self-sustaining and independent.

Nobody will forget in a hurry how Nestlé is developing data journalism, climate change and sustainability, partnering the Pan Atlantic University to train young journalists, towards mastering their craft.

That, is the Nestlé advantage!

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